George Cooper has been ruled out of Crewe Alex's side after picking up a knee injury in training.

The teenager had been pencilled into the starting side by manager Steve Davis, but is now unavailable.

Crewe are without Canadian striker Marcus Haber and Scotland under 19 midfielder James Jones, who are away on international duty.

Uche Ikpeazu is expected to lead the line, while Davis will check on George Ray's rib injury, while winger Ryan Colclough is expected to be on the bench after 16 months out.

United are expected to be without striker Matt Done (calves) and keeper Mark Howard (back).

Defender Jay McEveley hopes to be back in the squad after missing the last two games due to a shoulder problem.

Views from the managers

Steve Davis: “I would have thought that Nigel’s remit when he was offered the job was to get the club back into the Championship.

“They have done brilliantly in the cup competitions over the last couple of seasons but their main objective will be go up. They look like making the play-offs and there is no reason why they cannot go on and win that.

"There will be three good teams left disappointed this season. They are not totally out of grabbing second place but that will be a tough ask at this stage of the season.

"They would have to go on some run but they have the squad to do that. They have strength in depth and have spent some money.

“They managed to sign John Brayford on a permanent deal and we know all about the quality he has. He has played at centre-half recently.

“They have quality players and are strong. We have already played them three times this season after drawing them in the FA Cup, so we know about them as much as anybody.”

Nigel Clough: We don’t want to give any encouragement to the sides below us in the table.

"In fact, we want to say to them that to catch us, they’re going to have to really earn it; maybe by winning every game between now and the end of the season.

“We have another really important game on Saturday against Crewe, and three points cements our position in the top six; which is where we want."

Match facts

- Crewe Alex have never claimed victory at Bramall Lane

- Sheffield United scored at least one goal in each of their last 12 games

- The Railwaymen have lost their last five away games

- The Blades have been beaten on six occasions at home this season

Stadium Stats

Bramall Lane:

Opened: 1855

Capacity: 32,702

Record attendance: 68,287 v Leeds United in the FA Cup, February 1936.

Opposition star man

Jamie Murphy: United’s striker is the club’s top goal scorer with 10 goals in 50 appearances so far this season. James Shield, from The Star newspaper, told the Chronicle that Murphy has ‘the ability to tear any defence at this level apart’.

Murphy joined the Blades in January 2013 after almost spending seven years with Scottish club Motherwell.

Head-to-head record

Sheffield United wins: 17 (16 League & 1 FA Cup)

Crewe Alexandra wins: 6 (5 League, & 1 FA Cup)

Draws: 5 (5 League & 1 FA Cup)

The Railwaymen and the Blades had their first meeting over 100 years ago in March 1893, which was a bad at the office for the visitors Crewe, losing 4-0 in the old Division Two.